McFadden thinks turf toe not as bad as ’08

Darren McFadden has turf toe and although he hopes to face the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, it’s not a slam dunk.
“It might be a game time decision,’’ coach Tom Cable said. “He’s feeling much better, so we’re not trying to chance it right now and see what he can do tomorrow.’’

McFadden said the condition is not nearly as bad as his rookie year, when turf toe on both feet essentially wrecked his season. Behind the scenes, there were those in McFadden’s camp that felt the Raiders mishandled the injury and should have shut him down earlier. He even sought medical opinions outside the organization.

“It brings back memories but at the same time it’s something you learn to deal with,’’ McFadden said. “You know how to approach it.’’

Following the Indianapolis game, McFadden said in the locker room he had rolled his ankle while Cable said he had turf toe. Thursday was the first day he was available to the media and he confirmed his left toe was the issue.

McFadden said he went out and “ran around’’ at practice, but on the official report he was listed as not having practiced.

“I have full intentions of going out and playing so I’ll see how it goes,’’ McFadden said.

Defensive tackle Richard Seymour did not practice and will be a game time decision. Right tackle Langston Walker was limited, saying he made it through 95 percent of practice before he had a “miniscule’’ headache.

— The fact that the Raiders are 15 points shy of doubling their 2009 point total and are having their best offensive season since 2002 is of little consolation to offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

Asked if he was pleased by the Raiders’ progress, Jackson said, “No. Not pleased at all. We didn’t win enough games, so I’m not pleased by any stretch of the imagination We’ve been very inconsistent moreso than anything and we’ve got to strive to move forward and be a more consistent offensive football team.’’

Jackson gave himself a “C’’ as a playcaller because “when you don’t make the playoffs and don’t win your division there’s nothing to feel good about. The last two years (with Baltimore) I’ve been in the playoffs and I know what it’s like. That’s the reward for all your hard work. I wasn’t able to help the team get it done this year to my liking or our player’s liking.’’

Interestingly, Jackson had no problem with the play-calling against the Colts. He thought the play calls were fine and the execution was poor.

Critics (OK, me _ as well as a lot of you) thought the Raiders erred in going to the perimeter too often against a Cover 2 team noted for speed rather than attack between the tackles.

“They did some things defensively against us that we didn’t do a great job against. I know everybody cried about ‘Oh we have to run the ball more,’ ” Jackson said. “You got to do what it takes to win a football game. That’s the most important thing. I didn’t leave the game saying, ‘Oh gosh I should have run it more. Oh gosh I should have thrown it more.’ ”

Regarding quarterback Jason Campbell, Jackson said, “He’s really done a good job. He really has. I think Jason has really grown into this role here for our football team. I’m very excited about his future and what he can be in 2011.’’

Jackson wouldn’t bite about questions regarding his own future and the possibility that the Raiders’ offensive improvement could make him a potential head coaching candidate.

“Honestly the only thing I’m worried about is the Kansas City Chiefs and winning this game this week,’’ Jackson said. “That’s the only thing that’s on my mind, period.’’

— Former Chiefs coach and Raiders arch-enemy Marty Schottenheimer will enter the Chiefs Hall of Fame as part of the team’s alumni weekend.

It was Schottheimer who gave Jackson his first job in the NFL as an assistant coach with the Washington Redskins.

“He put me in the league so I have a lot of respect for him,’’ Jackson said. “He taught me a lot of football.’’

Reminded that Schottenheimer has a well-documented disdain for all things silver and black (not to mention an 18-3 record against the Raiders as head coach of the Chiefs), Jackson laughed.

“He does hate the Raiders and on Sunday I’m going to hate him,’’ Jackson said. “That’s part of the business.’’

— With San Diego tight end Antonio Gates headed to injured reserve with plantar fasciiitis, Zach Miller can probably expect a phone call elevating him to the team along with Jacksonville’s Marcedes Lewis.

“It would be great. It’s always been a goal of mine,’’ Miller said. “I’m just happy I was voted as high as I was, even though I was playing with a foot injury. Obviously I want to be one of those guys picked on the roster, but with the injuries this year and missing time, I feel like I ended up with a pretty good season.’’

Sebastian Janikowski, on the other hand, wasn’t as upbeat.

“If you can answer that question for me, that would be great, because it’s happened before,’ Janikowski said when asked what’s keeping him from being named. “I lead the league in field goals, scoring, it’s happened before. Same story.’’

— The Raiders find themselves within reach of the NFL record for penalty yards in a season, needing 106 yards to break the 1998 total of 1,304 yards set by Chiefs in 1998.

They’ll have to go some to break the record for penalties. The Raiders have 138 penalties, 20 shy of the Chiefs’ record of 158 in 1998.

The Raiders’ club records are 156 penalties (1994 and 1996) and 1,274 yards (1969 in 14 games).

Oakland’s penalty breakdown this year: 64 for 448 yards on offense (first), 56 for 575 yards on defense (second) and 18 for 176 on special teams.

Oakland has been called 55 times for false starts, offsides or delay of game. By contrast, the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL’s least penalized team, has 54 penalties all season.

The Raiders are tied for fourth with 18 holding penalties, with Jared Veldheer the team leader with five. Veldheer also leads with seven false starts.

Asked about penalties being a problem Wednesday, Cable said, “Actually I know everybody talks about it. But I think our style of play is to really cut it loose as I always say but I think that will grow as we mature. We’ve had a bunch of good games and a bunch of games where it was kind of ugly that way too. The penalties need to get better, will get better but I don’t see them as being as big an issue as I do the turnovers.’’

He’s not the only culprit, Carlyle was a step behind alot too, but Reese was just horrible.

And the funny thing is when he does finally get a pad on someone, we bust a good run.

Some of the run blocking we’ve been doing is head scratching, it really seems like alot of times someone is not in the right spot…Miller seems to be confused sometimes, makes me wonder how bad his concussion was/is?

But Reese has looked just plain embarrasing on some plays. Really if you’ve got the time look back, it’s almost comical. And I keep wondering what a good blocking full back could do for this team.

Not really sure how to feel for this KC game…

I’ll be curious to see Seymour’s body language, could be telling.

I can’t see Haley keeping any of his starters in the game, if the one thing the Raiders are good at its hurtin people.

Go Raiders, here’s hoping we blow out the Chiefs on Sunday, and prove why they are going to get demolished in the first WC game. There’s easy money to be made on vegas on that.

I wonder if we’ll see Cape Fear starring Jason Campbell again on Sunday?

I’m willin’ to bet that Campbell has offered a personal bonus to Langston Walker to keep Super Mario off the field.

Roch R

Is it just me or does Campbell play favorites? You can see that some guys, he just doesn’t trust.

Why do you think Reese has soooo many damn receptions this year?

He’ll fire a laser beam through a tiny window to hit Reese, but he won’t throw it deep to DHB? (Maybe there’s a good reason, but alot of times, I don’t think there’s enough of a reason for him not to make that throw)

Who is Jacoby Ford next season? I hope this is the start of something special, but we’ve seen the start of a lot of things before.

PurpleDrank81

What happens when langston leaves in free agency and they use henderson as RT next year?????

Roch R

We regress…

Roch R

And what happens when Cooper Carlyle finally retires next year?

Roch R

Right side of the line, and center are big needs next year. BIG needs, and we’ve seen nothing of B Campbell so who knows….

Anyway nite Nation.

PurpleDrank81

Cooper Carlisle will be here fallin over his feet next year..

Lets Go Pat Devlin

Kirk

Roch, it’s not Cape Fear or Fear Strikes Out.

It’s Fear Doubles Off the Left Field Wall.

J Hill

Is Reese really that big of an option in the passing game to keep him on the field?

One of the many subtle head scratchers from Hue this season. The lack of solid blocking from Reese get exposed a lot against the good teams. And that FB five averages about a half yd per carry.

I say get that guy off the field and roll with 2 TEs or a 3rd WR. Heck, play Khalif Barnes at FB on certain plays.

J Hill

Any Oline with Mario Henderson starting on it will be a below avg line!

Me neither, ubt his hands this season has been as bad as DHB, and I dont think we need more of that, but if he could get back to his ‘09 form, Im all for it..

————

Word, I’m hoping his down season just had to do with the fact that he had Derek Anderson and Max Hall throwing to him. Who knows, though. At his best he’s a dynamic receiver, and can return kicks and punts as well. At least in the past he’s shown that he CAN catch, so that’s always a plus.

YoungAmerican

James Jones would be an option, as well, but until Al proves me wrong I’m just going to assume that he doesn’t have “Raider speed”.

PurpleDrank81

This sucks…..Im supposed to be on a flight to New York to party and catch a private Dr. Dre Concert with Eminem on New Years Eve and Im stuck working the next 6 days and my sister is on her way with her fine azz friends rite now….. Being an Adult SUCKS

PurpleDrank81

Stanford is about to beat U-Conn

priesttj

Rock R I totally agree with the assesment of Reece as a FB his blocking is atrocious at times. If we had a FB with some serious blocking skills our running game woukd improve immeasurably. I would take a look at Reece as a rec’ing TE and an occasional FB but he commits way too many penalties and offers very little in the way of lead blocking. Make him a TE if he doesn’t improve greatly and even then still get a true rockhead at FB.

James Jones would be an option, as well, but until Al proves me wrong I’m just going to assume that he doesn’t have “Raider speed”.
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Is he a FA? he gave me huge numbers in FFL…

They got Jordy Nelson, so I doubt they will keep both, they are too alike..

I still prefer Breaston, but he cost more…

priesttj

Carlisle is a technician at OG he is very smart and very sound. But he’s not physical at the POA and gets bullrushed to much. As it is we don’t have the most physical C and having a both of them is a liability. We have to get a road grader at OG because our C is more of a technician.

PurpleDrank81

I like Kirkpatrick from TCU

priesttj

Jhill I think Mario can be an outstanding RT if you put him there and leave him there.

armond

jhill

reece doesnt need to come off the field as much. we havent made a true fb a priority since oneals injury which is stupid. its been 3 years since he suffered that injury and theyve wasted too much time on scrubs like lawton to replace him. we need a fb so it could free up reece and spring that running game loose.

armond

that music city bowl was good. ive been on that NC defense all season. they have a bunch of guys 2 look at for the next few years. to think that some of their best players didnt even play this year.

priesttj

DMC has to play Sunday and play well due to the probowl snub which I persoanlly don’t have a real problem with because he missed 2 games and was shut down in 3 games. Mostly by his coaching staff nonetheless he needs to put back to back seasons together before many are believers. He was dominant in some games but he has to more consistent he should’ve had 1500 yards rushing and 500+ rec that would’ve made him a lock.

priesttj

UNC is as talented as any team in the country in terms of NFL talent why they didn’t win more games is probably due to the lack of a QB. But that WR Greg Little is a good’n The DE and the DT can both play Austin is a pro player right now.

WE gotta run Bush at KC Sunday and use DMC on the perimeter he just seems to get hurt running between the tackles too often. I would love to see Chaz go off and get Ford and DHB deep.

armond

dmc was shut down by the stupid coaches but he was still worthy. he wouldve had more tds if they didnt let your boy bush piggy back his goal line opportunities. every1 should watch jared crick from nebraska 2nite. noticed him last year when i was looking at suh. #94 can ball his azz off. they also have a lb to watch for but i forget his name and then there is amukamara at cb.

Just Fire Baby

That Tennessee QB looked pretty damn good for a true freshmen.

3 more years starting in the SEC and I think he can be a first round pick.

Had a little Bernie Kosar in him, and the way he threw the ball.

Just Fire Baby

Preist,

Yates isn’t much of a pro prospect at QB (late round pick maybe), but he carried that UNC team most of the year.

Only had one bad game.

Just Fire Baby

Jake Locker???

I’ve watched a hand-full of his games, and never once has he looked any good.